POTTSVILLE — Despite the Pottsville Apaches heading to the Class 4A state championship game for the first time in school history, head coach Shane Thurman said that practices this week have felt remarkably the same as they have all season.

It's just another game — one they aim to win. Pottsville (26-6) will tip off against Pine Bluff Dollarway (29-2) at 8:45 p.m. today at T.H. Barton Coliseum in Little Rock.

“It's just another game that we have to get ready for,” he said. “A week or two from now it might set in. We might realize how big of a deal this game is, but for now it just feels like one more game.”

That's not to say the school and community isn't excited about it. Thurman said he was sure his players were hearing about it from their classmates. Fortunately, the buzz hasn't carried over onto the basketball court, at least not in a negative way.

Thurman emphasized that Pottsville will have its work cut out against the Cardinals. Pine Bluff Dollarway, much like the Apaches, cut through a swath of teams to reach tonight's pinnacle game.

The Cardinals are also loaded defensively and score well in transition, the coach said.

“We are going to have our hands full,” he said. “We're working on staying in front of our man on defense and rebounding and being strong with the ball to prepare for them. More than anything, we're trying to focus on what we do and doing that well.”

Pottsville didn't reach the state championship game by chance. The Apaches are a well-rounded team, with three guards who could all play point. Depending on the game, a different player may emerge as the leading scorer – but you can be sure it'll be either Michael Perry, Travis Cole or Luke McAnulty.

“We have bounce,” Thurman said. “We have shooters. We have guys who can post up and we have guys who can drive it. It's hard to pressure us because we have three guards that can really handle the ball.”

“The fact that we're a well rounded team gives us a chance,” Thurman said. “One of the things I'm most proud of is how this group has really gotten close. I feel like from a relationship standpoint, they've really come together as a team.”

Whether Pottsville brings home the championship tonight or not, there is no doubt this has been a special season for the Apaches, with many more to come.